A mobile terminal and controlling method thereof are disclosed, which facilitates a terminal to be used in further consideration of user's convenience. The present invention includes if a user having a prescribed ID logs in to an instant message server, receiving and displaying a pre-registered buddy list from the instant message server, setting a communication block for a first buddy in the buddy list not to inform the first buddy that the ID user has logged in, setting a communication grant for a second buddy in the buddy list to inform the second buddy that the ID user has logged in, displaying a dialogue window for an instant message communication with the first buddy, and receiving/transmitting an instant message from/to the first buddy despite that the communication block has been set for the first buddy. Accordingly, even if a user does not set a communication grant or block per a buddy in a buddy list in advance, it is able to effectively prevent a request for initiating an instant message communication with the user from being made by an unwanted buddy. Once one buddy is communication-blocked, it is able to receive an instant message from the communication-blocked buddy even before the communication block is released.